Last Thursday night was a late night for me. After Kiwanis we had friends back to our house, as we do most weeks, and we got to chatting and, ummmm, drinking, and I didn’t get to bed until well after midnight. I tell you this not to brag about my ability to party despite my advancing age but to set the scene for Friday morning.
Normally, I am up early even on my days off. Truly, I have always been a morning person. I like to get up early and get started on my day. On work days it’s shower first then coffee and computer and I (try) to leave the house by 6:30am. On non work days I’m still up early (usually by 6:30) but it’s coffee and computer and then exercise before my shower.
Friday morning, though, I was understandably tired and I didn’t get up until after 8am. I didn’t have anything special planned for the day, just some errands, so I was relaxing and enjoying a leisurely cup of coffee when the phone rang. It was my sister-in-law, Mary, and she was calling to invite me to go look for snowy owls. She thought we’d have a good chance of seeing them and said that she and Randy could pick me up at 9am.
Ummmm.
Of course I jumped at the chance and I hurriedly washed my face and got dressed, gulping my coffee as I did so. I had to search a bit for warm clothes and discovered that my new cold weather running pants were perfect for wearing under my jeans. And then I had to prep my camera bag and find a thermos for my second cup of coffee and have something to eat, too. I managed to be ready before they pulled into my driveway, though, and off we went to Duxbury Beach.
It’s a pleasant ride and we chatted on the way. Randy regaled me with stories of the owls and their various adventures when they had gone to look for them. It occurred to me as he was talking that I had never actually hung out with them without Dale around and I realized that doing this with them – without Dale – really made me feel a part of this family. It was a great feeling and the time in the car passed quickly.
When we got to the beach Mary pulled out her binoculars and Randy drove slowly down the beach road. Mary kept searching across the ice and I, well, I just sat there and waited for an owl to fly in front of the windshield or something because I think that’s about the only way I would have found one on my own. As we were driving along, an Audubon van passed us and Randy stopped them and asked if the birds were visible. Sure enough, the driver told us there were 2 and he told us exactly where to look for them.
And we found them! The first one was out on the ice and was camouflaged really well. I’m confident Mary would have seen him but I don’t think I would have. We got out of the car and walked across the ice as far as we could (which was not far, frankly) and I took a few photos but he was really too far away for anything worthwhile.
Back into the car we went and Randy drove down the beach road a little further. We could see some cars pulled over and photographers by the dunes and that was a big clue as to where the bird was. Even I could have found him on my own!
The setting was absolutely perfect – the dunes, the fence, the beach grass and the grey clouds couldn’t have made a more picturesque spot to see my first snowy owl.
How cool is that? I’m no wildlife photographer but I think I was able to capture him well. And he just sat and looked at us for the longest time. His head was swiveling a lot and at one point a flock of Canada geese flew over head and he looked right up at them.
I cropped this photo in pretty tight so you can see him better. I just love all those feathers. And, in case you don’t know your snowy owl facts, this is a young owl and that’s why his feathers have so much brown. As they get older they get whiter and then look more like, well, Hedwig.
I didn’t want to crowd the other photographers but they were pretty friendly and we were chatting away while we snapped photos. I could have stayed there for a long time, just watching and marveling at the beauty of this bird. After a bit, though, he started getting . . . antsy. Do owls get antsy? I don’t know but we could tell he wasn’t going to hang around much longer. And sure enough, he crouched down . . .
And then he flew away.
Before he took off, though, I took 110 photos. Wanna see my favorite?
I’m thinking it would make a great canvas print for our living room.
I had so much fun on this spur of the moment trip. I didn’t get to the gym and I didn’t get to Town Hall or to the travel agency but I had an adventure and that’s way better than running errands. As Randy said – “10 years from now, what will you remember? Going to the grocery store or seeing your first snowy owl?”
I’m glad I picked the owl.
Great story! And gorgeous owl.
That is so cool! I’ve heard that there are snowy owls around the airport too but I’ve never seen one. Your pictures are great.
I love snowy owls. I saw one on Friday on Plum island and saw three today at Salisbury beach. They are beautiful.
Surprised to see you on Sunday. What a marvelous adventure and what a spectacular bird. I have seen features about them on TV a couple of times–they’re early this year? Have a great time watching the Super
Bowl and try to avoid any more boozing it up
Beautiful photos! So right, it is the unexpected opportunities that often make the best memories.
Those spur of the moment adventures are usually the ones that leave us with the best memories
Gorgeous photos, but then I’d expect nothing less from your camera lens!
We need to be open to new possibilities, as a chance like that comes along infrequently. We need to be open to new joys and new roads. Thank you for sharing your adventure!
Beautiful juvie owl! I saw my one and only adult snowy owl in Dryden, NY when I was in Nursing School, perched on a light pole. They are magnificent creatures.
What beautiful photos! I’ve never seen a snowy owl. Thanks so much for these. Spontaneous outings have always turned out to be the most special for me. Sounds like this was for you too.
I’m glad you picked OWL, too! What a grand adventure — and the photos are fabulous. Just fabulous! Serendipity, for sure!
I love how your adventure worked out. You got some beautiful shots!
These pictures are fabulous, Carole, and that snowy owl is just beautiful!
Cool! I’m not a huge bird fan, but what great photos. I think Mr. Owl would have been pleased with his portraits.
what a treat
I loved the one where the owl is flying off. Amazing photos.
I absolutely love this post, the photos — everything! Thank you!!
Beautiful photos! Aren’t days like that wonderful? Thanks for sharing!
Wow! How spectacular . One of my fav children’s book is Owl Moon which talks about a nighttime search for owls. Would love to see one in its habitat instead of through a bird of prey facility.
That is really cool. I love how fluffy the owl looks in one shot. I think you made the right choice.
Stunning photos! Owls are truly beautiful creatures. <3
whoa. seriously. you did a great job with the photos and you’re right. who cares about the gym and errands.
That is a dream~ I can hardly believe a Snowy Owl on the beach in the daytime, and you had your camera. Thank you for posting those!
This post is JUST GREAT!!!! Thank you!!!!! I’m so glad I’m getting to see this wonderful creature even second hand. We’ve had some snowy owls on Cape Ann, but they’ve been out on the ice expanses and very hard to spot from a distance.
Carole, I greatly admire your photography skills. The owl photos are gorgeous. Love the dunes, the raggedy fence, the sky and the owl. Just spectacular.
An owl-fancier once told me that if you see an owl during daylight hours it means hunting hasn’t been very good — since they usually hunt at night. Did your owl-experts tell you the same thing? Not sure if snowy owls are out in the daylight for other reasons.
Wow! Wow! Wow! The adventure, the shots, the OWL! What a day.
Gorgeous. I love watching the birds, but rarely have my camera ready in time. I live on a creek, so I get some of the most amazing birds..kestrels, blue heron & egrets. Maybe if I took the time to sit on my deck for a week and not move….